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India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.

Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

Concerning History

This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of reaching the final of this edition also.

After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.

Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with earlier.

While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.

This was clear in the displays of the squad.

Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.

In his post-series press